For veterans stepping out of uniform and into entrepreneurship, franchising offers a powerful pathway. With organizations like VetFran (Veterans Franchise Initiative) and the International Franchise Association (IFA) standing alongside you, you’re not going it alone. Veterans today are succeeding in franchise ownership in increasing numbers, and the signs for 2025 look strong. By Rose Mango
For veterans stepping out of uniform and into entrepreneurship, franchising offers a powerful pathway. With organizations like VetFran (Veterans Franchise Initiative) and the International Franchise Association (IFA) standing alongside you, you’re not going it alone. Veterans today are succeeding in franchise ownership in increasing numbers, and the signs for 2025 look strong.
According to the IFA’s 2025 Franchising Economic Outlook, the franchise sector is projected to add more than 20,000 new units, bringing a 2.5% growth rate and employment gains of roughly 210,000 jobs. For veterans, that expansion means more opportunities in a model built on discipline, consistency and leadership traits honed in the service. In fact, VetFran reported that although veterans account for only around 7% of the U.S. population, they represent approximately 14% of all franchise owners.
VetFran, an initiative of the IFA, has built resources to help veterans transition into franchise ownership. Its directory lists more than 600 franchise companies that offer veteran-inclusive opportunities with discounts, training, mentorship and support all built in. In 2025, VetFran took a meaningful step: partnering with the U.S. Small Business Administration’s “Boots to Business” program to include franchising modules in veteran entrepreneurial training.
If you’re a veteran ready to leave military life behind and build your own business, you already have many of the core ingredients for success. You know how to lead teams, follow systems and adapt under pressure, all of which are skills that align with franchising’s structured model. Franchising doesn’t mean starting from scratch, it means stepping into a proven system with support.
The keys to making it work? Do your homework: evaluate franchise models that align with your interests, leverage the veteran-friendly incentives (fee discounts, financing options), and tap the networks available through VetFran and IFA. Selecting the right brand while transitioning to civilian business culture is completely surmountable when you approach them as you would a mission: with clarity, preparation and purpose.
In 2025, the franchise industry is growing and welcoming veterans in ways it hasn’t before. If you’re ready for your next mission as a business owner, you have the tools, the backing and a thriving industry to step into. You’ve served your country. Now, you can serve your own future.
Rose Mango